What do budgerigars eat? What do parrots eat What does a parrot eat in its natural environment

Birds are the only creatures capable of imitating human speech. In addition to parrots, starlings, crows and other birds do this. The book tells about the lifestyle and behavior of "talking" birds, primarily parrots, their maintenance in captivity, and training. Particular attention is paid to the vocabulary of the most prominent "talkers". The structure and functions of the vocal apparatus, the auditory analyzer of birds are considered. A new teaching methodology is described, based on the formation of associations between a word and an object in parrots. Bird lovers who train budgies will find a lot of useful things for themselves.

"Talking" birds are a unique mystery of nature. Despite the fact that this phenomenon has been of interest to bird lovers for a long time, it has not yet been solved. Decades ago there was a growing interest in teaching budgerigars to "talk". It turned out that they do not just copy human speech, but can connect a word and an object, a situation and a statement that it denotes. Some of them answer the questions of a person, exchange remarks with him. What types of birds “speak”, where they live, how they behave in the wild, how their hearing and vocal apparatus are arranged, how to teach a budgerigar to speak, how to choose a suitable bird, how to keep it, how to feed it, this book tells about all this .

For zoologists, bioacoustics, animal psychologists and a wide range of readers.

On the 1st cover page: red macaw (photo by J. Holton).

1. Cestors Nestorinae.

2. Psittrichasinae bristle-headed parrots.

3. Cockatoo Kakatoeina?.

4. Woodpeckers Micropsitlinae.

5. Lori Trichoglossinae.

1. Pygmy loris Psittaculirostrini.

2. Bristle-lingual loris Trichoglossini.

6. Owl parrots Strigopinae.

7. Real parrots Psittacinae.

1. Parakeets Platycercini.

2. Wax-billed parrots Loriini.

3. Hanging parrots Loriculini.

4. Parakeets Psittacini.

5. Wedge-tailed parrots Araini.

Let's talk about each of them in more detail.

The Nestor subfamily (Nestorinae) contains one genus (Nestor) with two living species - kea (N. notabilis) and kaka (N. meridinalis), living in New Zealand. Both species are about the size of a crow, females are similar to males. The third species is exterminated by man. Kaka - gray-headed, with a red rump and a band on the back of the head, the color is dominated by dark brown with an olive tint, feathers with a black border. An inhabitant of mountain forests, for nesting uses trees with hollows, which are lined with bark and twigs. From four laid eggs, 1-2 chicks grow. They endure captivity well and quickly become ruddy, although they are rare in zoos, even less common among amateurs. Kea, unlike the previous species, is mostly olive green in color, some specimens are brownish, t red shoulders and yellow cere, long beak (mandible is much longer than mandible). Its nesting sites are located in the harsh highlands on the South Island of New Zealand, where fogs and winds are frequent, and snow constantly lies in winter. Here, in winter, the kea builds a nest in a rock crevice and lays 4 white eggs, the size of pigeons. In addition to adult insects and their larvae, worms, kea feeds on fruits, fruits and flower nectar. Behind this parrot in the past, the sad glory of the “sheep killer” was established, which, however, is greatly exaggerated. Apparently, only a few kea are capable of killing sheep, pecking large raps on their backs. Most of the kea feed on the meat of fallen sheep during the period when the sheep herds rise above the forest belt - to the places where the kea live. Nevertheless, the newly acquired habit (before the arrival of Europeans, there were no sheep in New Zealand at all) almost cost a few lives. Kea began to be mercilessly destroyed (the hunter received a bonus for each bird killed), and up to 4 thousand birds were shot a year. In 1970, a law was passed protecting the kea, and its numbers began to increase, and its range expanded to the slopes of the mountains. Under cellular conditions, kea quickly become ruddy, willingly eat grain, carrots, beets and other vegetables.

The subfamily of bristle-headed parrots (Psittrichasinae) is represented by only one genus (Psittrichas) and one species - the New Guinean bristle-headed parrot (Psittrichas fulgidus), which lives in the mountain forests of the interior of New Guinea. The parrot is the size of a crow (length 500 mm, wing 310 mm) mostly dark, in some places black and black-brown in color, while part of the wing coverts, outer webs of the middle flight feathers, upper tail are red. The beak is slightly curved, the mandible is strongly elongated and pointed. It feeds mainly on berries and fruits, seeds of forest fruits. It quickly grows tame, and local tribes keep it as poultry. Rare in zoos and hobbyists.

The cockatoo subfamily (Kakatoeinae) unites five genera (Kakatoe, Callocephalon, Calyptorhynchus, Plyctolophus, Probosciger) with 17 species found in Australia, New Guinea, East Indonesia and the Philippines. All of them are of medium size - from a jackdaw to a raven, black or white in color, often with pink or yellow in plumage and with a large crest. All of them are forest dwellers, feeding on nuts, fruits, fruit seeds, insects and their larvae. They nest in hollows and rock voids, lay two to five white eggs.

The most elegant pink cockatoo (Kakatoe roseicapilla), the color of which consists of a combination of smoky gray and red-pink tones, and the head is decorated with a white crest. Medium in size (length 37 cm) parrot. It lives in Australia, inhabiting forest-steppe areas, islet forests, does not avoid settlements. It nests in eucalyptus hollows, abundantly lining them with fresh leaves. Lays up to five white eggs. It collects food on the ground, eating seeds of plants, tearing out roots with its beak. One of the most popular species among hobbyists, has been kept in cages since the last century. They are strongly attached to a person, not noisy and relatively calm, in terms of their ability to “speak” they are inferior to Jacos and Amazons, but they are superior to small species. Numerous in nature. Breeds in aviaries.

Another species representing large parrots is the black cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) (length 80 cm), which lives in northern Australia, western New Guinea and adjacent islands. Here it is found singly or in small groups in dense, tall forests. It is easily recognizable by its slate-black plumage, red-colored non-feathered sides of the head, and a large black crest on the head. The huge beak is curved down and is equipped with a long, fleshy tongue, keratinized at the end and having a spoon-shaped groove. Such a device of the beak allows the bird to crack the hardest nuts and leathery fruits that the black cockatoo feeds on. But, in addition, he also uses seeds and tender shoots of trees as food. Fanciers rarely keep a black cockatoo because of its large size and unpleasant voice (annoyed, it screams loudly and piercingly, in a calm state its voice resembles a creaking of a door), but it is quite common in zoos.

Unlike Jacos and Amazons, cockatoos are more unpretentious to the conditions of detention and climate, and therefore are especially appreciated by lovers of indoor birds. The disadvantages include their loudness. They feed the cockatoo with grain, boiled corn, potatoes and other vegetables. Some of them breed in cages.

The woodpecker subfamily Micropsittinae is represented by the single genus Micropsitta and six species found in New Guinea and adjacent islands. All of them are distinguished by their small size (length no more than 10 cm) and a shortened tail with hard, like woodpeckers, helmsmen. The predominant color is green. The beak is narrow, curved, with scars at the end of the mandible, the fingers are long with weak claws. They constantly stay on the tops of trees, where they eat juice and seeds protruding from cracks in the bark. Insects, in particular termites, are used as food. They hang from the trunks, leaning on the tail, like woodpeckers, move along the trunks like pikas. Hollows are made by themselves in soft wood or borrowed by others, they make moves in termite nests, where they lay two eggs. Little studied.

The subfamily of lorises, or, as they are also called, brush-tongued parrots (or honey badger parrots) Trichoglossinae is represented by 14 genera - Trichoglossus, Chalcopsitta, Cliarmosyna, Domicella, Eos, Glossopsitta, Lathamus, Neopsittacus, Opopsitta, Oreopsiltacus, Phigye, Pseudeos, Psittaculirostris, Vini with 62 species distributed in Australia, New Guinea, Eastern Indonesia and the Philippines. Some taxonomists divide them into two tribes: brush-tongued lorises (Trichoglossini), including 58 species, and pygmy parrots (Psittaculirostrini), consisting of four species.

Pygmy parrots are small (sparrow-sized) birds found in northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands. They lead a forest lifestyle, eating fruits and berries. Unlike real brush-lingual lorises, their tongue does not have a brush, and their beak is thickened and expanded laterally.

Brush-lingual lorises differ from pygmy parrots in their narrow and long beak, special outgrowths-papillae and “brushes” on the tongue, which allow them to feed on nectar, tree sap and fruit pulp. But, in addition, they also use the nights of trees, larvae and pupae of insects for food, and when kept in cages, they are accustomed to millet, oatmeal, wheat, sunflower seeds, various cereals mixed with honey or fruit syrup. Their habitat covers Australia and Indonesia, they live mainly in forests, avoiding open spaces. Lovers willingly keep lorises in cages and aviaries, putting up with their loudness, high sensitivity to temperature changes. Their bright coloration, mobility and well-defined ability to imitate human words compensate for the difficulties associated with their content.

The sharp-tailed, or mountain, lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) is especially popular among bird lovers largely due to its bright coloration (back, wings and belly are green, facial plumage is blue, nape is purple, chest is red, green tail feathers are narrow and long) . In nature, it lives in the Moluccas, New Guinea and Eastern Australia and is quite numerous everywhere. Lorikeet are social birds and keep in flocks. They prefer mountain forests. They feed on vegetative parts of plants and nectar. Females lay 2-4 eggs in hollows, incubation lasts about 80 days. It appeared among European amateurs in 1868 and now this species successfully breeds in aviary conditions.

The subfamily of owl parrots Strigopinae is represented by one genus (Strigops) and one species - kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), living in the sparse forests of the South Island of New Zealand. Currently, it is an extremely rare bird, the range of which is continuously declining. More recently, the kakapo has been found in the North Island of New Zealand, as well as the Stewart and Chatham Islands. Kakapo is a large bird, up to 60 cm high, males are larger than females, greenish in color with black stripes on the back and brown, yellow and fawn stripes on other sides of the body. There is a facial disk resembling an owl (hence the second name - an owl parrot). Although the wings are developed, it flies poorly and mostly moves on foot along fixed routes. In case of emergency, it is able to glide to a distance of up to 30 cm. It lives in humid places on the plains, climbing mountains to a height of up to 1400 m. Here it arranges its nests in burrows between tree roots or in rocky voids. Each burrow ends in a nesting chamber where two eggs are laid. Reproduction occurs in January-February and is timed to the abundance of berries (the main food of kakapo). The kakapo's voice is like a low hum. It is believed that to produce these sounds, he uses voids and niches in the ground, which he digs himself.

The subfamily of true parrots - Psittacmae - is the largest and representative both in terms of the number of genera (52) and species (234). Not being able to list all of them, let's focus on some of the most interesting and remarkable. First of all, in this subfamily, the tribe of flat-tailed parrots Platycercini, which includes 12 genera and 31 species, lives in New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania. Most of them are characterized by a stepped tail, small (from a starling or a little more) size, nesting in hollows, less often in burrows, some of them willingly descend to the ground and even lead a terrestrial lifestyle, others are typical trees, others are inhabitants of the Australian savannas and steppes.

In the southern parts of Australia, the decorated parrot Neophema elegans lives, inhabiting sparse forests with large clearings. This species belongs to the genus of grass parrots - small birds that spend a lot of time on the ground and bushes. Feeding on the seeds of herbaceous plants, fruits of wild and cultivated fruit trees, this species finds enough food everywhere and rapidly increases in numbers. In recent years, clover seeds have become increasingly important in its nutrition. The range of this species in Australia is rapidly expanding. The decorated parrot nests in the voids of rotten stumps, laying up to five white eggs, the nesting period covers August-October, that is, the spring of the Southern Hemisphere.

Rosella (Platycercus eximius) is a typical flat-tailed parrot, a medium-sized bird (body length 32 cm), brightly colored red (head, neck, chest, lower tail coverts), black (upper back) and green (lower back and belly). ) tone. Violet-blue wings with black spots and blue tail feathers are striking. This species is now widely distributed in Eastern Australia, becoming, in essence, a synanthropic bird. Roselle can be seen in city parks and suburbs, in fields and gardens. In addition to weed seeds, it readily feeds on wheat, clover, alfalfa, apples and pears, destroys harmful insects in large numbers. Rosella arranges its nests in the hollows of trees and the rotten core of thick branches, low above the ground, sometimes in the pores of bee-eaters and rabbits, in hollow fence posts.

Lovers of cellular birds are well aware of another representative of flat-tailed parrots - cockatiel, or nymph (Nymphicus hollandicus) - a small parrot (body length 33 cm) of a gray-brown color with a characteristic yellow crest and yellow cheeks, a red spot in the ears, elongated tail. At home, they are found throughout the interior of Australia and are extremely undemanding to biotopes. They can be found in the open savannah, and in the eucalyptus forest, and in the thickets of desert plants. Increasingly, they appear in wheat fields. In addition to the seeds of herbaceous plants, small insects are present in their diet, and possibly the nectar that they collect from flowering eucalyptus trees. The cockatiels arrange their nests in the rotten core of thick branches, where they lay up to seven eggs, the male and female incubate alternately for 21 days. They spend a lot of time on dry bushes and tree tops, less often descend to the ground, drink on the fly "from the water" without sinking to the shore. They belong to the favorite cage birds, despite the sharp and unpleasant voice, they are very hardy to temperature and food, they easily learn a few human words and melodies, they are peaceful and quickly become attached to the owner.

The flat-tailed parrots also include their smallest representative (body length 18 cm) - the budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus - the most common indoor bird in the world, successfully competing with canaries in its popularity. The main color of this parrot is green, but the head, back and wings are covered with a thin transverse pattern, and the lower back is a brilliant shade, the tail is blue. The front of the head and throat are yellow with blue and black spots. In males, the cere is dark blue, in females it is brown or brown (during nesting time it is pale blue), but there are no differences in color between the sexes. In Australia, this parrot is found almost everywhere, sometimes in millions of flocks. Lays up to five eggs in hollows without litter, incubates up to 20 days. Below, in special chapters, we will talk about the budgerigar in more detail.

The numerous and species-rich tribe of wax-billed parrots (Loriini) unites 15 genera and 47 species, among which many are well known to lovers and often kept at home, primarily lovebirds and necklace parrots. These species received their name - wax parrots for the glossy surface of their beaks, painted in red, black or yellow.

In the tropics of the Old World, necklace parrots are widespread, which got their name from the narrow "collar" that separates the plumage of the head and neck. There are 12 species of them and all of them have a long stepped tail, green colors and shades predominate in their coloring. Large specimens reach a size of 45 cm. Kramer's necklace parrot (Psittacula Krameri) lives in tropical Africa (Senegal, Mauritania, North Cameroon, the White Nile basin) and in Asia - from Pakistan to South China and Vietnam, south to Sri Lanka. Its Mauritanian subspecies is protected as rare, but the remaining subspecies are numerous and seriously harm agriculture, destroying up to 18% of the grain crop. Cramer's parrot feeds on fruits and nuts, seeds of cultivated cereals, flying out to feed on the fields. Spends most of the time in thickets of thorny bushes, flies well and high. For nesting, he chooses hollows of old trees, where he lays four white eggs. The Kramer's parrot is one of the most popular pet birds and is often seen by hobbyists. It breeds in small enclosures.

Small parrots living in Africa and Madagascar got their name lovebirds (Agapornis) for the special attachment of the male and female to each other that lasts a lifetime. In total, six species are known. This is one of the most common (after wavy) pet birds among parrots, which are often found in pet stores and constantly in bird markets in Moscow and other large cities. Like the budgerigar, lovebirds are easily bred in a cage. The predominant color in the plumage of lovebirds is green, although the head, throat, neck and rump of various species are colored red, pink or black. They have a short, rounded tail and strong paws. They are good: they fly, uttering a sharp cry, quickly move along the branches and the ground. They nest in hollows and crevices, where the female lays up to six eggs and incubates herself, while the male mainly feeds the chicks.

The most common among amateurs and well-known is the pink-cheeked lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis), which is well distinguished from closely related species by red cheeks and a pink throat, red side rudders, a pale yellow beak, and a general green background of the rest of the plumage. The total length of the bird reaches 17 cm. This species lives in Southwest Africa. For nesting, the lovebirds use the huge buildings of social weavers, settling there in separate cells, in other cases he makes nests himself, filling the crevice with thin twigs and blades of grass, which he carries tucked between the feathers of the tail. Lovebirds feed on small seeds, fly out to maize fields, where they cause significant damage to agriculture. In a number of localities, they switched to a synanthropic way of life and began to settle in villages and suburbs, arranging nests under the roofs of houses.

Small parrots (10-16 cm long), living in India, Indonesia and Indo-China, were called hanging parrots for their habit of sleeping upside down, grabbing a twig with one or two paws. But with the appearance of a predator and the danger that threatens them, they use this technique already as a means of hiding, becoming like fruits hanging around. There are only nine species of them and they are united in the tribe Loriculini, containing only one genus - Loriculus. Their plumage is dominated by green or greenish colors, although there are blotches of blue and red spots. The tail is short and straight cut, the long tail feathers cover it for a greater extent. The narrow cere is covered with feathers. The tongue is devoid of a “brush”, like a loris, fleshy and smooth. They live in old high-trunked tropical forests, feed on the pulp of fruits, berries, nectar, tree sap protruding from cracks in the bark. Shortened legs are well adapted to the movement of parrots along the branches. They nest in hollows, where the female drags strips of bark and other building material, putting it into the feathers of the tail or back. Amateurs are rare, as there are problems with nutrition. In captivity, they are fed vegetable and fruit juices diluted with honey.

Representatives of the tribe of parrots (Psittacini), which unites 12 genera and 66 species, are the most interesting for us, since among them there is the largest number of "talking" birds and they speak best. It is here that we will meet the "champions" among the talking birds - the gray parrot, or jaco (Psittacus erithacus), and the Amazon parrots (Amazona, 26 species). But apart from these interesting views, representatives of the group are also vase parrots (Coracopsis, 2 species), violet parrot (Pionus fuscus) and a number of others. Short-tailed parrots are distinguished by a short, wide and straight-cut (rarely slightly rounded tail), large, smooth, steeply dipped beak, usually black.

The gray parrot, or jaco (Psittacus erithacus), is a rather large bird (body length 40 cm) of gray color with a red tail (including lower and upper coverts). At the same time, the darkest and largest parrots are found on the islands of Principe, smaller ones with a red-brown tail - in Zaire and the Congo. The beak is black, the bare patches of skin on the head are white. Gray parrots live in the tropical forests of Africa from Guinea to Angola. They nest in hollow trees and lay two white eggs. They fly out to feed in large flocks. Easily tolerate life in captivity, sometimes breed. Willingly eat grain, including sprouted, boiled vegetables, fruits, fresh herbs.

Amazon parrots (Amazona) are inferior to Jaco in the ability to imitate human speech, but among them there are exceptionally capable specimens. 26 species of this genus inhabit the tropical forests of South and Central America and the Antilles. These are short-tailed parrots of medium size (body length up to 40 cm), mostly green, sometimes with a mirror on the wings and red spots on the tail. The head (or parts of it), as a rule, is painted in other, non-green colors. A large number of Amazon parrots are exported annually, including smuggling for sale to hobbyists in Europe and North America. At the same time, many of them die (up to 500 thousand per year). (For more on this, see: Parrots are imitators of human speech.)

Yellow-headed Amazon (Amazona ochrocepliala) is one of the most capable of "speaking" birds. It lives in Central America and in the north of South America, mainly along coastal thickets and the edges of tropical forests. Nests in hollows. It feeds on fruits and maize.

Wedge-tailed parrots make up the tribe Araini, uniting 13 genera and 71 species. Among them there are tiny parrots 12-13 cm in size and such giants among parrots as macaws, whose body length reaches 98-100 cm. Common to them, however, is a stepped tail with long tail, tapering towards the end, naked or slightly covered stab areas around the eyes, large, massive beak. Among wedge-tailed parrots of medium size (body length 30 cm), the monk parrot, or Kalita (Myiopsitta monachus), living in Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina, is widely known among lovers. Its plumage is dominated by greenish and gray tones, the beak is straw-colored, the tail is stepped, longer than the wing. Kalita is a colonial bird, arranging a collective nest of thorny branches, up to 1 m in diameter. In such a nest, which protects well from the cold and predators, several pairs settle at the same time. Kalita prefers swampy habitats, from where, having gathered in flocks of up to 500 birds, it flies out to feed on grain fields. To protect their crops from them, farmers shoot and capture parrots in large numbers for sale. Lovers willingly keep kalit in enclosures, where it is easy to breed, but it is of little use for indoor keeping because of its harsh voice. He learns to "say" a few words, but his ability to "speak" is limited.

The largest of the parrots belong to the genus Aga (15 species). This is a brightly colored bird with huge high and strong beaks and long stepped tails. Macaws inhabit the tropical forests of South America and settle in hollows, laying 2-3 eggs. Gathering in large flocks, they fly out to feed in the gardens, causing significant damage. A strong beak allows them to crush the hardest fruit seeds. Macaws live well in a cage, get used to a person and “speak” a little. The most capable of learning instances are able to memorize up to 80 words.

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It’s time for every bird breeder to know what a budgerigar eats. The thing is that the health and well-being of your pet directly depends on what he eats. This does not mean that he is picky about food and unable to eat much of what you have to offer him. About some types of products can cause poisoning in birds and other unpleasant consequences.

The basis of the diet of birds

Surely many of you know that the basis of the diet of most bird species are various grain mixtures. For example, ordinary millet should not only be the main dish of any parrot, but also dominate among other types of grains.

Thus, in any grain mixture that should be given to tamed birds, seventy percent of the composition should be millet. The remaining thirty percent should contain oats, canary seed and wheat.

If your parrot does not eat the food offered to him, then you should immediately turn your attention to it. Most likely, you simply did not notice the low quality of the purchased mixture.

Also, when choosing food for your pet, always pay attention to the expiration date. It is dangerous for your parrots to give old grain.

Budgerigar Treats

Surely most of those who keep budgerigars or some other type of bird at home love to indulge them with all sorts of delicacies. With the beginning of spring, ripe vegetables, berries and greens that your pets love so much appear on the shelves of many stores.

However, in addition to excellent taste, all of the above products also contain a bunch of useful ones. Such a vitamin supplement is the best way to maintain strength and improve the health of your pet.

So what vegetables can parrots - a budgerigar may like carrots, cabbage, apricots, apples, rose hips, melon grapes and many other berries, vegetables and fruits.

As for the greenery, the birds will surely gladly accept the grass, clover, dandelion, etc. that have appeared in their cage. At the same time, it is better not to give dill and any types of decorative flowers to your pet.

Similar restrictions should be applied to the list of fruits, deleting avocados, mangoes, persimmons and even nuts from it. This prohibition is explained very simply. Some types of fruits and vegetables contain substances harmful to birds that can significantly undermine their health.

Hazardous types of products

When offering your pet any food allowed for him, do not forget about a number of prohibited foods, the presence of which in the diet of a budgerigar is unacceptable. Their list includes: mushrooms, chocolate, milk, salt, sugar and various spices.

All of them, to one degree or another, adversely affect the health of the wavy, leading to disorders of its digestive system and other negative consequences.

The wavy in the house should receive good nutrition, similar to their food in the natural environment in the wild. Then they will delight the owner with cheerful singing and various tricks for many years. You can ensure good living conditions by knowing where parrots live and what they eat in wild nature. This will help make the bird's diet balanced.

A budgerigar can be called an Australian sparrow. On the far southern continent, they are as common as our gray pichugs. Only in Australia live mainly endemic animals and birds, so budgerigars in nature pronounce about 10 different sounds, constantly sing, making up a “text” from them.

The budgerigar is an Australian sparrow

Budgerigars are found mainly on the northern and western coasts of Australia and migrate inland before the arrival of the rains. They surprisingly sense the period of awakening of nature. Parrots are considered the harbingers of rain. With the onset of winter, they make nests and breed parrots.

In places where budgerigars live, 2 seasons:

• summer - drought;
• winter - rains.

Birds in large flocks, the composition of which is constantly changing, move over short distances, while there is a lot of food. With the onset of drought, parrots migrate from a place where there is water, grass and shrubs grow.

Budgerigars fly in large flocks

What do parrots eat in their natural life. They peck grains of grasses, fruits of bushes. In the trees restless birds only sleep. Only during the period of feeding chicks prefer the pulp of fruits and the middle of seeds, nuts.

Having found kangaroo grass, the parrot actively feeds, moving along the ground. A flock moves in a wave across the field. When food becomes scarce, the birds that are behind rise and fly in search of other eateries.

Birds suffer the most without water. During the hot period, the channels of small rivers and lakes dry up. The parrot gathers dew from the leaves in the morning. When the flock finds a source of water, the weaker birds perch along the edge and drink. The rest quickly quench their thirst on the fly.

Budgerigars suffer without water

Budgerigars in the wild have many enemies among birds of prey. In the open area of ​​the reservoir, pichugs are vulnerable, so they try to quickly fly away under the protection of shrubs and trees.

The budgerigar has a strong beak with sharp notches along the edges. It easily cracks nuts and shells large seeds from bushes. The bird gives preference to small grass seeds, about 20 varieties, which he can swallow completely. The degree of ripeness does not play a special role.

In places where budgerigars live, there are few trees; they prefer shrubs and grass up to a meter high. Finding appropriate place, quickly all peck, running from place to place on the ground. Especially active in the morning. Peeled from a rough shell, the fruits are first sent to the goiter, then partially digested into the stomach.

Birds prefer shrubs and grass

The budgerigar can eat the fruits of trees. This mainly occurs at the beginning of the rainy season, when the birds begin to incubate and feed the chicks. Then they prefer soft food. The offspring that have left the nest are fed by their parents for about 3 more weeks. They fly up to a flock of young and call their cubs.

The young leave the nest at the age of 30-50 days. All this time, the parents feed them, regurgitating half-digested food. The parrot is a social creature. They build nests close to other families, they choose a couple forever. Ornithologists consider wavy in pairs. The flock, with which they lived for some time, the birds easily change to another. Whoever noticed food or water first warns the whole flock with special signals. This helps them survive in difficult conditions.

Unlike large breeds parrots, budgerigars never eat larvae, pupae and other forms of insects. They can gnaw at the bark, separating it from the trunk with their strong beak and breaking it into pieces.

In Australia, before the arrival of the colonists, parrots lived several times more. Now the places where the birds traditionally ate are plowed under crops. On several thousand hectares, all vegetation was destroyed during weapons tests. As a result, parrots migrate when there is nothing to eat, they can destroy a crop in a field of several hectares in a day. Among budgerigars, cockatiels, macaws and other representatives of larger breeds sometimes live in a flock during a drought.

Most of the people live on the coast. In the north, the climate is even, allowing crops to be grown almost all year round. Australia is located so that its northern part is close to the equator with its year-round summer. Therefore, budgerigars from that part of the mainland migrate over insignificant distances. Western parrots fly tens of kilometers a day in search of food and in the rainy season they move deep into the mainland, during a drought they can fly into cities in search of food.

During the day, parrots fly tens of kilometers in search of food.

In captivity, the amount of food for a budgerigar is 2 teaspoons. In the wild, the bird has to fly a lot in search of food, run on the ground and climb trees. They need fat deposits to migrate for several days without water and food. Therefore, when a field of wheat comes across along the way and there is nothing else, the flock quickly harvests. In the presence of meadow grasses, budgerigars do not eat large grains of cereals.

How to feed a home wavy

The main budgerigar living in the house should consist of several types of seeds:

• sesame;
• sunflower;
• flax;
• hemp;
• millet;
• oats.

Hemp seeds

The appearance of a small cheerful bird in the house is joy, delight, a lot of positive for all families. Having created the necessary conditions for a new family member, you need to get accurate information about how to feed budgerigars at home.

The natural habitat of these birds is the tropics. In these territories of the globe, it is warm all year round and there is no shortage of natural natural feed. The diet of tropical birds is varied and it is difficult to create a suitable menu at home.

Wildlife provides birds with a sufficient amount of balanced food, which contains the necessary nutrients and vitamins. High-quality and nutritious food has a positive effect on well-being and appearance birds.

In search of food, small bright creatures travel great distances. Given the times, they adapt to the seasonal ripening of plants and fruits.

When flying, wild individuals expend a lot of strength and energy, which cannot be said about pets. In captivity, bird flights are short-lived or impossible. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate the correct and appropriate diet for birds.

In their natural habitat, birds feed on grains, preferring young milk seeds of plants. The food of birds is rich and high in calories, but obesity and imbalance do not threaten wild species.

Consuming large amounts of grains, budgerigars are considered granivorous birds. Their diet contains seeds, early shoots of plant crops, berries, fruits.

How to feed a parrot at home

The main food of budgerigars in captivity is grain mixtures. Pet stores offer a wide variety of foods. Only the owner of a feathered pet will be able to choose food for his pet.

One important factor that should be determined in finished formulations is high quality. Feed must be in tight, sealed, plastic packaging. Without any signs of mold, dirt or bad smell. Only a fresh and good mixture will keep the budgerigar healthy, cheerful and playful.

Hard food

In universal parrot food, the main ingredients are millet of different varieties, canary seed and oats. Mixes may include:

• sesame seeds;
• hemp seed;
• meadow grass seeds;
• flax seeds;
• raw peeled sunflower seeds;

For feeding the bird, cereals are excellent, which are prepared from some cereals:

• buckwheat;
• peas;
• lentils;
• rice
• barley;
• wheat;

Using these cereals as food for the budgerigar, they can not be scalded. It is enough to pour boiling water, insist and give to the pet.

Vegetables

It is not necessary to make a restriction only on grain feeds and cereals. For a long life and good health, a pet needs to be provided with a varied and balanced diet that includes vegetables.

Vegetables are good for everyone, birds are no exception. You should be wary of purchased, long-term storage of vegetable crops. In such feeds, there are a large number of chemicals that can play a sad role in the life of an exotic bird.

Vegetable products grown independently on personal plots are excellent. You can feed parrots:

• carrot;
• pumpkin;
• turnip;
• zucchini;
• cucumbers;
• tomatoes;
• corn;
• beans;
• green peas;
• cabbage;

Before use, the vegetable must be washed, chopped with a knife or grated. You can feed your parrot with vegetable delicacies alone or mixed with other healthy ingredients.

Fruits

The small homeland of colorful birds is a tropical fruit paradise. Birds love fresh fruit. Before feeding, the fruits are washed and processed. Oranges, kiwis, bananas are peeled because the peel contains essential oils and many substances harmful to birds.

Of the many types of citrus fruits, parrots prefer tangerines. Fresh apples should be present in the diet of birds all year round. You can also treat your pet with a pear, but in a very limited amount. To maintain the functionality of the internal organs of the bird, it is recommended to give one grape every other day.

Seasonal berries can be added to the main feeding: sea buckthorn, currant, mountain ash. Such summer fruit crops dry well and are used as feed at different times of the year, in dry or steamed form. You can treat the bird with pineapple, but only in small quantities. Fruit should be served in a separate feeder.

Branches of trees and shrubs

Birds of paradise are great lovers of sharpening their beaks. A parrot released to freedom, having flown enough, begins to gnaw on furniture or walls. This cannot be allowed. To protect property from damage, you should distract your pet with tree branches.

Branches of birch, linden, chestnut, mountain ash or fruit trees are suitable for this. The pre-harvested twig is soaked in cold water for several hours. Then it is washed under running hot water and scalded with boiling liquid. After these procedures, you can give your pet a tool for turning the beak.

Animal proteins in the bird's diet

Animal proteins must be present in the bird's diet. For this fit, cooked for ten minutes, chicken eggs, which are grated and given as complementary foods separately or as part of vegetables. For saturation with proteins, fish oil and low-fat cottage cheese are suitable.

Greenery

Budgerigars love to eat greens. There is plenty of it in its natural habitat. At home, the bird should receive a daily portion of greens, regardless of the season and conditions of detention.

In summer, you can feed your pet with vegetable tops, clover, spinach, plantain leaves. In winter, wheat grains are germinated in small containers. Top juicy cabbage leaves work well. Growing a parrot at home is easy if you choose the right nutrition for it.

Mineral components and vitamins

• crushed eggshell;
• chalk;
• charcoal;
• bone meal;
• river sand;

water for the parrot

In the pet's cage, there should be clean water. The liquid should not be too warm. Cold is also not suitable, as it can lead to indigestion and a cold. To quench the thirst of a parrot, water with a temperature of at least fifteen degrees is excellent.

Water needs to be changed daily. When changing the fluid, you need to rinse the drinker. For drinking, children's filtered bottled water is used. To strengthen the immune system and plumage of a pet, add a few drops of lemon juice to the liquid.

Parrots love to take water treatments. If you pour some liquid into the saucer and hold it with your hand, the pet will bathe and clean the feathers.

Servings for Parrots (Daily Value)

For a feathered family member, two teaspoons of food per day is enough. Only young individuals during the feeding period eat a little more, but it is necessary to ensure that the parrot does not overeat.

There should always be some food in the feeder. In birds, a fleeting metabolism and even a short time spent without food will destroy an exotic bird.

Prohibited Products

In order for a pet to please the owner with a cheerful chirp and excellent health, some dietary restrictions should be followed. The following vegetables are harmful to birds:

• eggplant;
• garlic;

The following fruits are harmful to the body of a bird:

• persimmon;
• avocado;
• mango;

Fragrant herbs are not suitable for bird feed:

• dill;
• parsley;
• cilantro;

Do not use branches to sharpen the beak:

• lilac;
• oak;
• acacias;
• poplars;

For indoor birds, houseplants and flower crops are dangerous:

• hyacinth;
• dieffenbachia;
• ivy;
• azalea;
• indoor fern;

Among the breeders of these birds there are disagreements because of the bread. It is believed that this product is harmful to parrots. Zoologists say that birds can eat bread, but in small quantities. Occasionally, you can treat the bird with white wheat bread.

Breeding feathered pets is an exciting and positive activity. Only complete and reliable information about how to feed budgerigars will save your pet's life.

The most popular exotic bird for home keeping has become a budgerigar, a bright and festive representative of Australia's nature. Only there, on a distant continent, whole colonies in wildlife live cheerful birds known all over the world.

Favorites of children and adults, talkative and noisy, domestic budgerigars create a special atmosphere with a manifestation of friendliness and bird curiosity. In communicating with them, excellent learning ability, unpretentious character, craving for affection and showing attention are manifested.

Features and habitat of the budgerigar

The genus of budgerigars got its name from the characteristic coloration with curved lines on the back, wings and head. Latin name Melopsittacus undulatus literally means "singing budgerigar".

Sometime in natural conditions the birds were grassy green with yellowish plumage around the beak and throat. Thanks to breeders, many shades have appeared: with blue, white, purple color.

Wavy parrot feathers fluoresce when exposed to sunlight. In the dark, this property becomes noticeable. This feature plays a decisive role in choosing a nesting partner.

Thin waves of the pattern from the head smoothly turn into thickened stripes on the tail. Lines become clearer with budgerigar age. In young individuals, the pattern starts from the wax, then, as they grow older, a yellow mask appears on the head. An age sign is also a long tail stepped in shape. Juveniles have shorter tails.

In general outlines, the shape of the parrot is slender, beautiful. The body length is on average up to 20 cm, tail, wing - up to 10 cm, weight is 40-45 g. Paws are gray, with 4 fingers, two of them are bent back. Sharp claws help tenaciously hold objects.

The long stepped tail of a parrot indicates its adulthood.

The powerful beak is curved, like that of a large winged predator. It is very mobile, universally adapted to breaking off and grinding twigs, twigs, seeds, fruits of plants.

The beak carries pieces of food, many objects. It helps to keep when climbing tree branches, and domestic budgerigars cling to the bars of the cage or the net of the aviary with their beak.

At the base of the beak is a cere with nasal openings. To the question how to determine the sex of a budgerigar, recommend looking at its color. Violet or bright blue occurs in budgerigar boy, bluish or brown female budgerigars.

In the photo, a female and male budgerigar

Wings work only in flight, not accompanying in other movements. They fly in an arcuate manner, like. Confidently walk on the ground. Under natural conditions, budgerigars live only in Australia and the nearest island territories. Although they are widespread there, as familiar to us, the number of living birds in captivity exceeds the number of natural inhabitants.

Large flocks, the number of which reaches several thousand individuals, constantly roam in order to feed themselves. Grassy plains, where there are many seeds of plants, thickets of shrubs in the savannah, eucalyptus trees attract birds. Feeding areas are not enough, parrots travel long distances to find food.

The nature and lifestyle of the budgerigar

budgerigars live well organized communities. The birds know the duties, take care of each other, clean the feathers of their brothers, and observe the ceremonies of their colony. The friendly nature of birds is shown in danger when they warn others about it.

In the morning flocks of budgerigars fly to the water. Attachment to water procedures - salient feature feathered. Rains do not spoil their lives, only increase active nesting.

Daytime passes in constant search for food. The little ones show perseverance and strength, overcoming long distances on the way. By evening, a place is chosen among shrubs and trees for the entire flock to spend the night.

Very active and curious by nature. Staying at home can be comfortable for them if it is possible to fly at least once a day and communicate with other inhabitants of the housing, both people and animals.

The cage should contain objects that occupy the bird: a mirror, a swing, bells. Parrots are responsive to any attention and affection, respond with a manifestation of trust and interest.

Singing budgerigars resembles the chirping of sparrows, but it is more polyphonic and intertwines chirping with elements of imitation of the sounds heard. The ability of birds to switch to other people's trills and sing in unison with their feathered counterparts is known.

Keeping a budgerigar at home

The first began to be brought to the houses of Europe from the first third of the 19th century. The unpretentiousness of birds, lively nature, low maintenance costs have made them the most popular birds at home. Buy a budgerigar Now it's easy in any pet store.

Despite the simple rules of keeping, compliance with them is necessary to maintain the health and activity of budgerigars. It should be borne in mind that birds have their own needs:

• the cage should be spacious for the bird to move along the perches with spread wings;
• you need a lighted place with a shady shelter from the bright sun, if the rays fall on the cell;
• there should not be batteries or heating elements nearby;
• the average temperature comfortable for birds is 20-24°C;
• Parrots don't like drafts.

Taking care of the cleanliness of the cage, proper feeding will ensure a healthy stay in your home. wavy parrots. Care and attention will make pets family favorites, especially children.

The parrot cage should be spacious and clean.

Many are attracted for the purpose of learning onomatopoeia. To do this, it is worth getting young parrots, not older than 5 months. It is recommended to buy from breeders. There, the chicks get used to the person who transplants them into cages.

They are less shy and better trained. Moving is a stressful situation for a baby. It will take time to adapt, get to know the new conditions. Learning ways how to train a budgerigar speak or how to tame a budgerigar, requires patience and showing love to the pet.

The room for the birds should be safe: windows closed with mosquito nets, the absence of bars and narrow slots into which it can penetrate out of curiosity and get stuck. There are known cases of death of birds from a heart attack after falling into random traps.

Hygiene of the cage, cleanliness of the feeder and drinker are provided without the use of chemicals. Sufficient processing can be rinsing with boiling water and chamomile infusion.

talking budgerigar, as a rule, she grows up in conditions where she gets very young and perceives a person as a caring mother, feeding and educating. Only daily communication and love for a pet give a result.

Budgerigar food

The diet of birds is varied. The basis of nutrition is grain mixtures from peeled oats, millet, with the addition of mineral components. Budgerigars are fed with fruits, vegetables, berries, seasonal greens. Owners of domestic birds need to pay attention to the quality of the food sold in order to prevent mold or debris from entering.

You should know that there are forbidden food for parrots, you can not give persimmons, mangoes, nuts, potatoes, dairy products, meat, tops of tomatoes, peppers, green onions, dill. Greens should be seasonal and thoroughly washed in running water.

Flower bouquets are dangerous for birds. It is better to keep them in other rooms so that curiosity does not kill the pet. To strengthen the body with calcium, you need to add chalk, organic sand (sepia), mineral stones. Inorganic sand is strictly unacceptable in the feed of parrots.

The diet is supplemented with cereal cereals from buckwheat, rice, millet, corn grits, barley. Salt and sugar should not be in them. Instant porridges are not suitable, only cooked in the traditional way. Parrots can even be offered cereals steamed with boiling water.

It happens that the pet is no longer interested in food. Why budgerigar He doesn't eat anything, ask your veterinarian. Perhaps the increased growth on the beak interferes. It is removed, and henceforth a piece of chalk is placed in the cage to grind down the beak. The parrot can handle it on its own.

Reproduction and life expectancy of the budgerigar

Under natural conditions, birds breed all year round, during favorable seasonal conditions. Nesting sites are close to water. For laying and hatching budgerigar eggs choose hollow trees or crevices in the rocks.

Dust and wood chips serve as bedding. The number of eggs is usually from 2 to 6, but sometimes there are up to 12 pieces. The female incubates the offspring for up to 20 days, and the male feeds her during this period.

budgie chicks appear blind and naked. The first 10 days they are completely helpless, dependent on the care of their parents. Then the eyes open, and a month after the plumage is completed, they are already ready to leave the nest. Communication between generations is finally interrupted a few days after their departure.

In nature, the life of birds is short, does not exceed 5-6 years due to the many dangers for these fragile creatures. Conditions in captivity ensure the availability of food and a minimum of infections. Therefore, a budgerigar can live up to 10-15 years, delighting the owners with bright colors and sonorous singing.